Do you remove your camper from the truck while camping?

I don't ever take my TC off at a campsite. Never have. When I had a boat, it just wasn't much of a problem to launch with the TC on.

I have and then wonder why I did and so I quit it. Took it off another time to show a fiver owner how easy it was. He saw my foam boards I use to raise the camper for clearance and you could tell the gears were turning in his head, realizing he could keep his hitch rails in and carry a tc. I try to be an ambassador for the tc.

Well I would take mine off now and then, but there are a few reasons I don't. Mainly, my truck (1996 Chevy Silverado) has a narrow contoured tailgate opening. It is what it is and I love the truck. However unless I'm on a perfectly flat, level surface It is a total pain to get the camper off and on with only +/- 1/2" clearance on either side between the camper and the top of the bed rails. About the same with the wheel wells.... Just not worth the time and effort for me. I've always felt "stuck" in one place when camping though, so for local transportation from a campsite to town, tourist destinations, etc., I'll be towing my Mini Cooper on an Acme tow dolly I'm purchasing this year. Can't wait for that! Secondly, since I have a special California non-commercial permanent RV registration for the truck, meaning that the camper is on full time and the truck is not to be used for any other purpose. Even hauling things INSIDE the camper would be considered illegal! They were very specific about that at the DMV when I switched over the designation but I save a lot of $$ in high California DMV fees this way.

Dak

I have a Northstar 850 pop up. It is easier to take off and put back on once than it is to stow everything, lower roof, etc every day so if we are someplace more than 1 night and have plans to drive places it comes off.

Sprink-Fitter wrote:

fpoole wrote:
I'm camping right now (today) with it off, full time, and unless I have a reason, camper stays on truck. It's just me so climbing in and out of truck to load it can be a PITA to get it just right.

My biggest concern is the wind blowing when I put it back on. I have a "high flatbed" and the jacks are close at 1-2" max'd out on level. I use 2" blocks to give a little more "Clearance Clarence" but gets a little wiggly at that height.

All that to say, I'll keep in on... less hassel and doesn't really make a big difference to me. View is better on the truck. If in a quiet forested area, probably take it off, easier to get into it.

You say you are camping right now with it off, then you say you keep it on.

Sprink-Fitter wrote:

fpoole wrote:
I'm camping right now (today) with it off, full time, and unless I have a reason, camper stays on truck. It's just me so climbing in and out of truck to load it can be a PITA to get it just right.

My biggest concern is the wind blowing when I put it back on. I have a "high flatbed" and the jacks are close at 1-2" max'd out on level. I use 2" blocks to give a little more "Clearance Clarence" but gets a little wiggly at that height.

All that to say, I'll keep in on... less hassle and doesn't really make a big difference to me. View is better on the truck. If in a quiet forested area, probably take it off, easier to get into it.

You say you are camping right now with it off, then you say you keep it on.

sigh...

I posted "...and unless I have a reason, camper stays on truck."

I have a reason....

Yes, you are right, it is off... 95% of time it is "On"... occasionally, I do remove it.. and that can change tomorrow.

Luckily, I'm not restricted and can change when I want. I just came back from a 10-day 'visit' from a Hospital and need the truck to go the 100+ miles for follow ups. Thus the 5% off. I still have to reload it for the 7-day Dump & Fills and if done with the Doc trips, I'll leave it on.

Hope that clarifies it.

I never do, I like having it along to use the bathroom, make a coffee, change clothes if the weather changes etc. It also gives the dog a more room than being stuck in the cab if we go somewhere we can't take him.

It fits in pretty much the same parking spots as the empty truck so don't really find parking to be an issue.

I also don't like being bound to a site so I rarely book sites and may just decide to overnight elsewhere so I may not even be returning to the same cg.

We will load and unload 25-30 times a year.

My wife prefers the lower height for getting in and out, so do I.

With electric jacks and quick release tie downs its easy to do and fast.

We will do it for as little as one night.


Rick

My 3-legged Bronco would need bottom support, and that strikes me as a PITA to carry along. Since it's only 7' wide, it doesn't really matter if it's on the truck, as far as parking is concerned. I just fold the legs horizontal and leave it on the truck.

We always unload the TC off the truck. It makes it easier to maneuver the boat or do sightseeing, errands and such.

We've got it down to a science now and we can be set up in about 20 mins or so. We lower it as low as it can go and use an adjustable aerobic step to maximize ease of entry.

We use scissor jacks and wobbl-stopprs from Torklift that keeps the TC rock solid. Works perfectly for us.

fpoole wrote:
I'm camping right now (today) with it off, full time, and unless I have a reason, camper stays on truck. It's just me so climbing in and out of truck to load it can be a PITA to get it just right.

My biggest concern is the wind blowing when I put it back on. I have a "high flatbed" and the jacks are close at 1-2" max'd out on level. I use 2" blocks to give a little more "Clearance Clarence" but gets a little wiggly at that height.

All that to say, I'll keep in on... less hassel and doesn't really make a big difference to me. View is better on the truck. If in a quiet forested area, probably take it off, easier to get into it.

You say you are camping right now with it off, then you say you keep it on.